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NRA chief, one of the most powerful figures in US gun policy, says he’s resigning days before trial

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:02:00 GMT

By MICHAEL R. SISAK (Associated Press)NEW YORK (AP) — The longtime head of the National Rifle Association said Friday he is resigning, just days before the start of a civil trial over allegations he diverted millions of dollars from the powerful gun rights organization to pay for personal travel, security and other perks.Wayne LaPierre, the executive vice president and chief executive officer, said his departure is effective Jan. 31. The trial in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit against him, the NRA and others who have served as organization executives is scheduled to start on Monday. LaPierre and ex-NRA President Oliver North are among the witnesses expected to testify. LaPierre, 74, has led the NRA ’s day-to-day operations since 1991, acting as the face and vehement voice of its gun rights agenda. He once warned of “jack-booted government thugs” seizing guns, called for armed guards in every school after a spate of shootings, and conde...

NY seeks $370M in penalties in Trump’s civil fraud trial. His defense says gains weren’t ill-gotten

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:02:00 GMT

By JENNIFER PELTZ (Associated Press)NEW YORK (AP) — New York state lawyers increased their request for penalties to over $370 million Friday in Donald Trump’s civil business fraud trial, while his defense argued that 10-plus weeks of testimony produced no evidence of fraudulent intentions or ill-gotten gains. Both sides highlighted their takeaways from the trial in court filings ahead of closing arguments, set for Thursday. Trump is expected to attend, though plans could change. It will be the final chance for state and defense lawyers to make their case in a lawsuit that is consequential for the leading Republican presidential hopeful even while he fights four criminal cases in various courts. The New York civil case could end up barring him from doing business in the state where he built his real estate empire, and state Attorney General Letitia James is seeking the $370 million penalty, plus interest — up from a pretrial figure of $250 million, nudged to over $3...

Water main break near Pechanga Arena forces postponement of weekend games

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:02:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A water main break has prompted Pechanga Arena to postpone this weekend's games. Friday and Saturday night's American Hockey League games between the Bakersfield Condors and San Diego Gulls, and Sunday's Major Arena Soccer League game between the San Diego Sockers and the Texas Outlaws are officially postponed, according to separate announcements Friday. The games are postponed because a water main break is affecting the event level of the arena, located at 3500 Sports Arena Blvd. in San Diego. Carlsbad native makes San Diego debut as pro fighter Friday's Gulls game was originally scheduled for 7 p.m., with Saturday's game scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday's 5 p.m. game between the San Diego Sockers and the Texas Outlaws has also been postponed, the team announced at noon Friday. Information on the all the rescheduled games and tickets will be announced at a later time. This story is developing. Stay with FOX 5 for the latest.

Cher is denied an immediate conservatorship over son’s money, but the issue isn’t done

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:02:00 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge on Friday declined to immediately put Cher’s son into the legal conservatorship that she is seeking and he is opposing, but the court will take up the issue again within weeks. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Jessica A. Uzcategui ruled that Cher’s attorneys had not given Elijah Blue Allman and his lawyers the necessary documents to give them sufficient time to make their case, and scheduled another hearing for Jan. 29. Last week, the Oscar- and Grammy-winning singer and actor filed a petition for control of the finances of Elijah Blue Allman, 47, saying his struggles with addiction and mental health have left him unable to manage his money and potentially put his life in danger by making him able to buy drugs. Allman receives money from a trust left by his late father, musician Gregg Allman. Cher’s attorney Gabrielle Vidal said at Friday’s hearing that a payment from the trust is pending, and the immediate establishment of a conser...

Vatican concludes former Minnesota archbishop acted imprudently but committed no crimes

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:02:00 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A lengthy Vatican investigation into misconduct allegations against Archbishop John Nienstedt, the former leader of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, concluded that he took “imprudent” actions but did not violate church law, the archdiocese announced Friday.However, the archdiocese also said Nienstedt remains barred from public ministry following the investigation. Nienstedt was one of the first U.S. bishops known to have been forced from office for botching sex abuse investigations. He stepped down in 2015 after Minnesota prosecutors charged the archdiocese with having failed to protect children from harm by a pedophile priest who was later convicted of molesting two boys. Nienstedt was later accused of his own inappropriate sexual behavior involving adult males and minors.His successor, Archbishop Bernard Hebda, in 2016 forwarded allegations to the Vatican that Nienstedt invited two minors to a hotel room in 2005 during a youth rally in Germany to c...

‘Floatel’ ship arrives in B.C. waters to house LNG construction workers in Squamish

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:02:00 GMT

SQUAMISH, B.C. — A ship that will house more than 600 workers at a natural gas construction project north of Vancouver arrived in British Columbia waters this week after a 40-day journey from Estonia, where it had been in use by Ukrainian refugees.Bridgemans Services Group, the company contracted to provide the so-called “floatel,” or floating hotel, for workers at the Woodfibre LNG project near Squamish, B.C., shared a photo of the MV Isabelle in Vancouver’s Burrard Inlet on Wednesday.The statement says the “luxury” ship was set to receive “final touches” at a North Vancouver shipyard, including games tables and equipment for a fitness facility, before making its way up Howe Sound to the site of the former pulp and paper mill seven kilometres southwest of Squamish.The ship recently housed people fleeing war in Ukraine,and the company building the LNG export facility says it has since undergone an “extensive refit” to its environ...

Recalled meat snack trays sold at Sam’s Club are linked to salmonella poisoning in two dozen people

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:02:00 GMT

At least two dozen people in 14 states have been sickened, including five who were hospitalized, by salmonella poisoning tied to recalled meat snack trays sold at some Sam’s Club stores, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. Fratelli Beretta USA, a New Jersey meat processing company, recalled more than 11,000 pounds of Busseto Foods brand ready-to-eat charcuterie meat products this week because they may be tainted with salmonella.The meat trays are labeled “Bussetto Food Charcuterie Sampler Prosciutto, Sweet Soppressata and Dry Copa,” with lot number LO75330300 and a best-by date of April 27. They have establishment numbers EST. 7543B inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture mark of inspection and EST. #47967 on the package. Illnesses were reported between Nov. 20, 2023, and Dec. 18, 2023. Salmonella infections can be dangerous for young children, older people and those with weakened immune systems. Consumers should check their refrigerators f...

Ohio governor signs order barring minors from gender-affirming surgery as veto override looms

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:02:00 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A week after vetoing legislation that would have banned all forms of gender-affirming care for minors in Ohio, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order Friday barring Ohioans from receiving transgender surgeries until they’re 18.The bill passed by both chambers along party lines last year would have banned gender-affirming surgeries, as well as hormone therapies, and restricted mental health care for transgender individuals under 18. While DeWine’s order does ban such surgeries for minors, it does not put limits on hormone therapies or the type of mental health care minors can receive. It takes effect immediately.“A week has gone by, and I still feel just as firmly as I did that day,” DeWine said, doubling down on his decision to veto the broader restrictions. “I believe the parents, not the government, should be making these crucial decisions for their children.”In announcing his veto last week, the governor said medical professionals he consulted...

Jarislowsky Fraser to back Browning West request for Gildan shareholder meeting

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:02:00 GMT

MONTREAL — Investment manager Jarislowsky Fraser says it will support a move by U.S. investment firm Browning West to replace five directors at Gildan Activewear Inc. in an ongoing fight over who should lead the company.Charles Nadim, head of research and portfolio manager, Canadian equities, at Jarislowsky Fraser says the firm intends to support Browning West and its intent to requisition a special meeting of Gildan shareholders.The dispute with the company comes after Gildan’s board replaced Glenn Chamandy as chief executive late last year with Vince Tyra. Chamandy has said he was terminated without cause after four decades with the company. Browning West wants to replace five incumbent directors, appoint Michael Kneeland as chair and reinstate Chamandy as chief executive.In addition to Jarislowsky Fraser, which is Gildan’s largest shareholder, Turtle Creek Asset Management Inc. has said it will back the Browning West nominees.For its part, Gildan’s board has sai...

Connecticut military veteran charged with making threats against member of Congress, VA

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:02:00 GMT

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut military veteran has been arrested on allegations he threatened government officials, including showing up at a Congress member’s office wearing a tactical vest with knives, federal authorities said Friday.Aubrey Wayne Rose Jr., 43, of Hartford, was charged with making threats against members of Congress, the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in West Haven and other government employees over the course of several months in 2023. No one was injured in any of the incidents.Rose is detained pending a hearing Monday in federal court in Hartford. His public defender did not immediately return an email seeking comment Friday.According to court documents, Rose told federal agents he has post-traumatic stress disorder and suffered a traumatic brain injury from deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and he believed the Defense Finance Accounting Service was not calculating his benefits correctly.After sending emails to government officials in Ma...